Be honest. Have you sent your kids to school when they could have stayed at home?

[Witchcraftandhokum]

I left my job in education before Christmas mostly because of the governments appalling response to Covid in schools and anti-teacher sentiment generally so I haven't really got a vested interest. But I'm curious, after speaking to my ex-colleagues and friends who work in other schools there seems to be a dramatic take-up on the offer of places for vulnerable students and children of Key-workers compared to the last lockdown.

The numbers in my old school during the last lockdown made it hardly worth opening the school, this time they're at capacity and are having to bring extra staff in at a risk to themselves. In my friend's child's class there are 21 out of 32 currently attending.

What's going on?

This is going to end up like the Christmas mixing thread.

Nobody is going to admit they are in the wrong. Everybody comes up with some kind reason why they should be the exception.

With DS no, he was taken back last May because his behaviour at home was so vile and he was refusing point blank to engage in school work. He is 15. School offered to have him back and I snatched their hand off. I contacted them this time asking if he could go back as I didnt want it to get to that stage again and they were more than happy for him to go.

DD was flagged because she is on FSM and as they had a tiny take up of key workers and vulnerable children were able to offer more places. I felt it was better for DD to go so we took the place. She has suffered a lot with her MH and confidence during the first lockdown and was just about getting back to her normal when the second on happened so I believe that it was justified in sending her back. I am sure some would say I was not but I dont really care.

As it happens I am hoping to start a supermarket job next week so I will qualify as a key worker then.

Incidentally I am categorically not talking about people who properly qualify and need the provision. That is what it is for. I am talking about SAHPs with a non front line keyworker partner, or people who are part time in also non front line but designated key worker roles...

I appreciate you saying that but the problem is that people in the second category are not reading these threads, or if they are they do not give a shit. Literally their only effect is to make those of us in the first category feel even more guilty.

And @Hoviscats - how do you think the NHS would continue to run if all the “non frontline” key workers were unable to work as they didn’t have childcare?

My kids could technically stay at home as I'm at home studying. However, their dad passed away a few weeks ago so school wants them in for some normality and routine. Not many of the other parents at school know about our "change of circumstance" and I bet there is talk behind my back about why my kids get to go to school when I'm at home.

It's impossible to know the story behind every child who got a school space. Though I don't doubt that some kids don't need to be there but I think it's fewer than we assume.

In my case, opposite. I could send DD in but don't want to. It's a struggle and I've no doubt DD will get covid from me (I work in an environment that is rife with covid) rather than school but hey ho.

Of course there will be knobbeds and chancers, but I think you’ll find many employees are under significantly more pressure to be in the office/on site this time, there is less use of furlough and many many jobs at risk- nobody wants to be seen as dispensable.

The only way closing schools works, is if you protect the livelihoods of those who will be responsible for childcare when children can’t be in school. And govt has refused to legislate for that (because it’s mostly women who bear this burden, and a mostly male, white, privileged cabinet couldn’t give a shiny shit).

If you feel angry with parents for sending kids into school, I’d suggest redirecting that ire to govt, who are putting many of them in this position.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

.The situation is worse than in march last year, yet more people are choosing to send their children to school

I don’t get it either, especially with the new strains. You’d expect numbers to be really low especially with the message to keep home.

I think the issue is that some employers that complied with the first lockdown and made their staff WFH, have now insisted that their employees come into work or else. So, those parents are left with little choice but to send their kids to school. I don't really blame the parents, they need the money obviously, it's inconsiderate employers who are going to make this is a much longer lockdown than it needed to be. Not fair on school staff either who are potentially at increased risk.😖

I'm a key worker but work from home and have done pre Covid so I don't send DS in.

He is old enough to crack on with the online classes and learning his school have set but it is still hard because I do a job that is busy and I have a lot of meetings but DS still wants drinks, snacks, lunch and general chat because he's lonely and misses his friends, by 5pm I just want to lie in a dark room 😂

So sorry to hear@MandUs.

Is being a 'critical worker' now a new thing? Previously it was key worker and frontline worker, how can it be critical and wfh? I would've thought a 'critical worker' could not do their job wfh, ie, paramedic, nurse, shop worker, bin man.... I am classed as a key worker but as I am wfh I would never have considered sending my two dc in to school. Honestly not being goady but am constantly amazed at all these new phrases being bandied about.

Same as @HappyFlamingo.

@Goatscheesewithhoney

And *@Hoviscats* - how do you think the NHS would continue to run if all the “non frontline” key workers were unable to work as they didn’t have childcare?

This. A huge amount of vaccine roll out is done by home workers. Do people really want them to be constantly interrupted and away from their work homeschooling?

The issue is that the definition of a key worker is too broad.
Here it is.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Last time, the school where I am a Governor had a skeleton staff in, now all the staff are in as over 50% of the children are in. If they refuse a place the parent can complain to the LEA and pressure is applied.

I know a fair few people who have done this, including one who’s one maternity leave snd her husband is on extended paternity leave

Another where the Dad classifies as a key worker, mum doesn’t work

We’re eligible, but have chosen not to send DD in. It’s a struggle as we’re both working, but we’re managing

If we are talking a day, or a week, DS could stay home. Longer term and he needs to be in. He was home and completely alone 5 days a week in lockdown 1 until I sent him into school in May. Having experienced that, I will not put him in that situation again.

Many parents on my local groups and schools are very clear that as they "qualified", they put their kids to school.

They can't be arsed with homeschooling
Their children need the social aspect and be with friends
It's been going on for too long and it might last for another few months

One of the parents being a SAH parents doesn't change the need of the children.

Isn't everybody trying to do the best for their kids? They end up in smaller classes, 15 kids instead of 30, with their teacher, and a normal life. So why not?

I am just curious what is going to happen when the year group is sent to isolation, what are critical workers supposed to do with their own kids then?

We did. Dh is a keyworker and I am sahm.

You have to look very hard to find someone who is NOT a key worker!

If every single family with one key worker was to send their children at school, what then?

As usual, the system only relies on people doing the right thing but it's their own children who are penalised.

@Bagamoyo1 - Thank you. It does feel a bit rubbish doesn’t it? I was walking across an empty school car park this morning, where it all felt a bit eerie and dark in the rain.

As we walked down the path, on our own, w couple of the doors were open, with teachers standing silently and waiting with their masks on. My DC were still hanging on to me, and I didn’t really blame them!

Having tried to do homeschooling and work last time, I know how hard and relentless it is, I am not saying it is easier in any way.

But surely we are all allowed to find it hard? Rather then turning on each other and constantly judging.

Nope. I was in school today. DH is a shift working key worker- none of our dc are in school. In fact none of the staff in today had their dc in their schools. It's almost as if we've known all along that schools pass the virus amongst themselves and into the wider community, and don't want our dc in that environment if we can possibly help it 🤷‍♀️

Who would have thought we would all be at each other's throats for sending our kids to school. It is so unbearably sad. I just want all children back at school as soon as possible.

Couldn't agree more goatscheese. Let's not turn on one another.

Circumstances are very different this lockdown, many more employees (non critical) expected to work, furlough not being used or not applicable.

My own situation is totally different this time round and I won't be the only one.

Just heard from PT teacher friend that she’s sending her children in four days a week ..she only works two days but needs prep time apparently.

He was off last lockdown and I have kept him at home so far but he has to go back next week or I am faced with residential school (sen) as that is all that is left. He needed medication just to attend after the last lockdown as it was too much and had to have a reduced timetable. I cannot take the risk again by keeping him off. his paediatrician is already angry as its part time. As it can be a difficult decision to medicate children. There are still people I know who will judge me for this. Especially neighbours who do not see the reality just a child getting into a car and going to school.